Nov. 17, 2011 - The Cherokee One Feather

OPINIONS & LETTERSLetter from Jimmy G. Arispe, Cherokee Central SchoolsSuperintendentCherokee Central School Parents, Guardians and Cherokee Community Members:The ability to read is critical to the success of any person! Research tells usthat if a child is not on grade level by 3rd grade he/she is four times less likely tograduate from high school by the age of 18. There is nothing more importantthat we do at Cherokee Central Schools than teach our children how to read andread well.After the Christmas holidays, we will launch a massive effort to ensure thatall of our children can read on grade level. All of our teachers and students inKindergarten thru 12th grade will be involved in this effort EVERY SINGLE DAYfrom 9am-10:30am. This will be our sacred reading time.I ask that you not check out your son/daughter during this time. I ask that youschedule any appointments for your children before or after this time. There isno more important time during their school day than from 9am-10:30am EVERYSINGLE DAY. I ask that you respect this time as sacred.We will use a highly acclaimed and successful reading program (SRA) that willprovide us with the greatest results possible. Students will be placed into smallgroups to receive instruction on their level and ability. They will move to differentgroups at any time based on their needs. Students who are “knockin’ it out ofthe park” and are above grade level will be placed in literature circles or novelstudies classes.We are inviting community members to assist us in these efforts. You do notneed to have a child at our schools. We need and want your help. You can assistus by distributing materials, testing students (you will be trained to do this),tracking inventory, or developing teacher resources. You will not have to be hereevery day, but would have to be here the same time/day of the week. If youwould like to teach, you will receive continuous training, be given a smaller groupof students, and would be teamed up with a teacher at the school. In this type ofteaching situation, you would need to be here every day.If you would like to help in any capacity, please contact the front ofice ofyour child’s school. Thank you for embracing and supporting this sacred readingtime. Thank you for supporting our students and schools.Sincerely,Jimmy G. ArispeSuperintendentThank YouFirst of all, I want to apologize forhe delay in putting this thank you inhe paper. I want to thank everyone forour prayers, thoughts, calls and visitsuring my stay in the hospital. Thankou to my family and church family, Dr.ranning and staff the Cherokee Hospial,tribal EMT worker, and Missionospital staff. If I have overlooked anyneplease accept my apology. Again,hank you for caring and God Blessou.ignedinda RabyYour 1/16page adcould behere!$25/weekGreensboro – The Strategic PlanningCouncil that advises The CooperativeExtension Program at N.C. A&TState University, welcomed new membersat its Nov. 1-3 meeting on campus.The Strategic Planning Council representsthe needs of communities acrossthe state to Cooperative Extensionleaders, who use that input to developresearch-based programs and informationon critical issues.Marvel Welch of Cherokee, whohas an extensive background in children’sadvocacy. She is a member ofthe Cherokee Youth Advisory Counciland the Eastern Band of Cherokee’s ExtensionAdvisory Board, among otherafiliations. Welch is also a guardian adlitem with the state judicial system anda certiied substance abuse counselor.She is a doctoral candidate in publichealth, at Walden University.Other new members are:• David Autrey of Yancey County,who rejoins the council after havingserved from 2003 to 2007. He ownsMillstone Cove Farms, and Autrey Treeand Landscaping; and is on the Boardof Advisors at his alma mater, Mars Hill30 cherokee one feather THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011Relive Cherokee History andBattles in 2012Enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation,and United Keetoowah Band are invited to participate in Cherokee livinghistory events in 2012. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will be sponsoringseven events in four states to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Timberlakeand Ostenaco’s journeys at the end of the French and Indian War. (see article)The year’s events will commemorating the events in the Museum’s exhibit,“Emissaries of Peace: 1762 Cherokee and British Delegations.” Cherokee re-enactorsare invited to participate in the recreation of the battles of the MontgomeryExpedition (1760) and Grant Expedition (1761). These will be held MemorialDay weekend, 2012.“This is going to be the largest recreation of a Cherokee battle ever held, andwe are looking forward to an exciting weekend,” said Ken Blankenship, ExecutiveDirector of the Museum. More than 100 volunteer re-enactors will be portrayinga British regiment in redcoats; the 42nd Highland regiment with kilts and bagpipes;and the South Carolina militia.Cherokee re-enactors must have their own historically accurate clothing andweapons and must be over 18 to have black powder weapons. Historically accurateclothing includes breechclouts, moccasins and red paint. The Museum willbe providing workshops this winter on moccasin and clothing making. All participantswill be juried before the event.All Cherokee re-enactors must have their own lintlock riles or muskets withlashpan. Any bags and pouches must have a closed top to avoid accidents. Allparticipants must be certiied in a black powder safety course to be offered at theMuseum of the Cherokee Indian in spring 2012. All war clubs must have softweaponry and will be inspected onsite for safety. The Museum will provide blackpowder at the event.The battles will be held at the actual site of the original Grant expedition battlesouth of Franklin North Carolina, on the Moore farm near the Spring RidgeCreamery on Highway 441 . Information is available on the Museum website atwww.cherokeemuseum.org. For more information contact Barbara Duncan byemail: bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org.-Museum of the Cherokee IndianLocal Resident joins A&T Advisory PanelMarvel WelchCollege. Autrey is also a past presidentof the N.C. Nursery and Landscape Association.• Gilbert Flowe of Concord, a longtimecommunity advocate, as well as astaunch supporter of Cooperative Extensionprograms and activities. Aspresident of his rural neighborhood association,Flowe was instrumental inthe ive-year process of getting waterconnections to 36 homeowners. He hasalso served on the Cabarrus CountyNursing Home Committee, and as avoting-precinct judge.• Lenon Hickman, a Kenansville residentwho retired from the U.S. PostalService in New York before movingwith his wife to Duplin County. Hickmanis a grower who serves on twosmall farmers’ cooperatives. He hasalso worked with a Summer EnhancementProgram teaching students togrow their own vegetables, and is amember of the Rural EmpowermentAssociation for Community Help.• Alice Locklear of Robeson County,an assistant professor of social work atUNC-Pembroke who is also pursuing adoctoral degree in human services. Shehas worked in various levels of socialwork practice including mental health,substance abuse counseling, cognitivebehavior therapy and more. As a LumbeeIndian, Locklear is particularly devotedto maintaining a healthy and safeenvironment in the physical-mentaland-emotionalwell being of NativeAmerican people.-N.C. A&T State University